Glove with fulcrum finger grip

ABSTRACT

A glove including an elastomeric material having a hand portion, the hand portion has a first finger, and the first finger comprises nodules. The first finger may be a ring finger location. The nodules may be positioned at the top of the ring finger location. The nodules are configured to provide enhanced grip of tools, such as dental instruments. A method including creating a glove using elastomeric material and forming nodules on a first finger of the glove. The glove may be formed using a mold shaped like a hand, dipping the hand shaped mold into the elastomeric material, and drying the elastomeric material. The nodules may be formed on a first finger of the glove by dipping the glove into a mold or by placing droplets on the glove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Doctors, Dentists, Dental Hygienists, and other professionals use medical gloves while working with their patients. Professionals typically use medical gloves to protect health care workers from a range of hazards encountered in the workplace, including: biological exposures (bacterial and viral), chemotherapy drugs, sterilants, and chemicals. Although the use of medical gloves is essential, some difficulties are encountered that can make the professional's work more difficult to accomplish.

Many improvements have been made in the past that improve the usability of medical gloves. Medical gloves have been made to fit tightly to the skin using latex or non-latex materials. Rolled ends have been added to the wrist part of gloves to aid in donning or doffing the gloves and securing the gloves to a person's hand. Improvements to methods of manufacturing medical gloves have also occurred. However, there are still deficiencies that can be found in medical gloves. In some professions, medical gloves may be altered for specific reasons particular to that profession.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments provide a medical glove with a fulcrum finger grip, a device with a finger grip to be placed on a medical glove, and a method for making a medical glove with a fulcrum finger grip.

An exemplary glove includes an elastomeric material having a hand portion, the hand portion has a first finger, and the first finger comprises nodules. The first finger may be a ring finger location. The nodules may be positioned at the top of the ring finger location. The nodules are configured to provide enhanced grip of tools, such as dental instruments. An exemplary device includes an elastomeric material configured to fit over a gloved finger, with the elastomeric material comprising nodules. The nodules are on a first surface of the elastomeric material and a second surface of the elastomeric material is configured to be in contact with the gloved finger. The device may include a cuff.

An exemplary method includes creating a glove using elastomeric material and forming nodules on a first finger of the glove. The glove may be formed using a mold shaped like a hand, dipping the hand shaped mold into the elastomeric material, and drying the elastomeric material. The nodules may be formed on a first finger of the glove by dipping the glove into a mold or by placing droplets on the glove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals denote like elements. The accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a glove with a fulcrum finger grip in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a finger grip in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the finger grip of FIG. 2, demonstrating how the finger grip is placed on a latex glove in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the finger grip of FIG. 2, with the finger grip placed on a latex glove in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a medical glove with a fulcrum finger grip.

With reference to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a glove with a fulcrum finger grip 110 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. In alternative embodiments, fewer, additional, or different parts may be used. A fulcrum finger grip glove 110 includes a glove 120 and nodules 130. The glove 120 can be made with any elastomeric material, such as latex. However, the elastomeric material may be latex or non-latex. The glove 120 can be manufactured with any method such as those well know in the art. This exemplary embodiment includes dipping a hand shaped form in a liquid latex material, allowing it to dry, then repeating the procedure multiple times to ensure an adequate glove 120 thickness. The glove 120 may include a rolled cuff along its wrist portion.

The nodules 130 are located on the top one-third of the ring finger as shown. The nodules 130 may be located on a different finger, more than one finger, or all fingers. The nodules 130 may also cover a larger portion of a finger than the top one-third, or they may be located in the middle of a finger area with the top and bottom of the finger not having nodules 130, forming a ring of nodules around the middle of a finger. The nodules 130 allow for enhanced grip. The nodules 130 are raised geometric shapes that may be uniformly shaped and uniformly placed, or they may not be uniform. This exemplary embodiment utilizes uniformly shaped and uniformly placed nodules 130. The location of the nodules 130 on the ring finger, as shown, can provide benefits for many professionals. The nodules 130 may be placed on the glove 120 using methods that are known in the art. This exemplary embodiment uses a method of placing the glove 120, while still on the hand shaped form, into another mold filled with latex material. Other materials may also be used. Another exemplary method is to place droplets of elastomeric material onto the glove 120.

In some professions, the ring finger is considered a fulcrum finger. In dentistry, the fulcrum finger helps to stabilize a clinician's hand during instrumentation. In practice, a clinician places the pad of the fulcrum finger on a tooth, near to another tooth being instrumented. The fulcrum finger serves as the support beam for the hand during instrumentation. It enables the hand and an instrument to move as a unit. The fulcrum finger grip glove 110 provides a stable support for the fulcrum finger in environments such as wet, dry, or saliva filled. The fulcrum finger grip glove 110 will help to provide slip resistance and grip action during instrumentation and when gripping teeth. The fulcrum finger grip glove 110 also reinforces the use of the fulcrum finger to help prevent hand and finger fatigue. Patients will benefit from less slipping of dentists fingers, which can cause injury to the soft and hard tissue in the oral cavity. Other professions will have similar uses for the fulcrum finger grip glove 110.

With reference to FIG. 2, a perspective view of a finger grip is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The finger grip 210 is composed of an elastomeric material 220 that has nodules 230 and a rolled cuff 240. The elastomeric material 220 is composed of latex, but in other embodiments may be a non-latex material. The elastomeric material 220 is manufactured to fit over the tip of a finger that is gloved. The tip of the finger is generally the top one-third of the finger. In other embodiments, the elastomeric material 220 may cover a larger or smaller portion of the finger. The elastomeric material 220 may be formed in a manner well known in the art for making latex gloves, or using the method as described regarding FIG. 1. The nodules 230 are also applied and shaped using such methods as described in FIG. 1. The rolled cuff 240 is rolled at the bottom of the finger grip 210 to allow easier donning and doffing of the finger grip 210. The rolled cuff 240 may be created using methods well known in the art. The finger grip 210 is useful because it can be placed on top of normal gloves that a professional is already using.

With reference to FIG. 3, a perspective view of the finger grip of FIG. 2, demonstrating how the finger grip is placed on a latex glove is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The finger grip 210 is placed over the ring finger of the glove 310. Other embodiments may place the finger grip 210 over the index finger, middle finger, pinkie, or thumb. Still other embodiments may utilize finger grip 210 on more than one finger.

With reference to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the finger grip of FIG. 2, with the finger grip placed on a latex glove is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. This figure shows the finger grip 210 placed over the ring finger of the glove 310. Other embodiments may place the finger grip 210 over the index finger, middle finger, pinkie, or thumb. Still other embodiments may utilize finger grip 210 on more than one finger.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Further, for the purposes of this disclosure and unless otherwise specified, “a” or “an” means “one or more.” The exemplary embodiments may be implemented as a method, machine, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, and/or any combination thereof to control a device to implement the disclosed embodiments.

The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments have been presented for purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and as practical applications of the invention to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 

1. A glove comprising: an elastomeric material having a hand portion, wherein the hand portion comprises a first finger, wherein the first finger comprises nodules.
 2. The glove of claim 1, wherein the first finger is a ring finger location.
 3. The glove of claim 2, wherein the nodules are positioned at the top of the ring finger location.
 4. The glove of claim 3, wherein the nodules are configured to provide enhanced grip of tools.
 5. The glove of claim 4, wherein the tools comprise dental instruments.
 6. A method comprising: creating a glove using elastomeric material; and forming nodules on a first finger of the glove.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein creating a glove using elastomeric material comprises forming a mold shaped like a hand, dipping the hand shaped mold into the elastomeric material, and drying the elastomeric material.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein forming nodules on a first finger of the glove comprises dipping the glove into a mold.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein forming nodules on a first finger of the glove comprises placing droplets on the glove.
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the first finger is a ring finger location.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the nodules are positioned at the top of the ring finger location.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the nodules are configured to provide enhanced grip of tools.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tools comprise dental instruments.
 14. A device comprising: an elastomeric material configured to fit over a gloved finger, wherein the elastomeric material comprises nodules.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the gloved finger is a gloved ring finger.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the nodules are on a first surface of the elastomeric material and a second surface of the elastomeric material is configured to be in contact with the gloved finger.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the nodules are configured to provide enhanced grip of tools.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the tools comprise dental instruments.
 19. The device of claim 14, further comprising a cuff.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the nodules are configured to provide enhanced grip of tools. 